Florida Department of Transportation officials have told the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to postpone its water line replacement project and open all lanes of traffic to alleviate congestion in the Upper Keys.
Sheriff Rick Ramsay, who confirmed the postponement to the Keys Weekly, said he received a message from FDOT’s district secretary around 11 a.m. that the project will be on hold until a traffic study is completed and another management plan developed.
“We were on site with FDOT team members who were sent down to evaluate the situation, and they had to sit in traffic for two hours to get to the location. They clearly saw the impacts occurring there,” Ramsay said.
The decision comes a day after the start of FKAA’s water line project began causing disruptions for many residents due to a traffic pattern change from MM 90 in Islamorada north through Tavernier. Crews were preparing to install water main underwater at Tavernier Creek Bridge before proceeding to place new, 36-inch pipes into the ground on the northbound side of U.S. 1 from Julep Road through Islamorada’s Plantation Key.
As a result, northbound traffic was being diverted into a southbound lane on U.S. 1 between Coral Shores High School and the traffic light at Tavernier Towne Center. An area usually flowing with four lanes of traffic was decreased to two lanes.
Congestion due to the new traffic pattern resulted in backups extending 5 miles in both directions, as well as travel times increasing from 15 minutes to nearly 2 hours for some motorists on Monday. Southbound traffic was backed up more than 7 miles on Tuesday morning.
A section of northbound lanes in Tavernier opened to traffic late Tuesday afternoon.
Traffic management in the work zone, which was implemented by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and its contractor, was initially approved by the Florida Department of Transportation.
“We are gauging this as a disaster and a concern for public safety,” Ramsay earlier told Keys Weekly regarding the traffic situation early Tuesday morning before FDOT’s order.
Ramsay added the backups as a result of the new traffic pattern affected emergency response among police, fire and rescue. Vehicles stuck in traffic could be seen moving to shoulders and medians to allow ambulances and police cars to pass by.
The congestion also affected Coral Shores students who live in Key Largo, as well as school bus pickup and dropoff for many students.
School board member Sue Woltanski said there will be no afterschool activities for Upper Keys schools on Tuesday.
Greg Veliz, FKAA executive director, told Keys Weekly on Tuesday morning that they were working to address issues seen on U.S. 1. The Keys Weekly has since reached out to Veliz regarding FDOT’s order to postpone the project and is awaiting comment.
Motorists are also unable to turn left onto roads and into businesses. That’s because FDOT doesn’t permit left-hand turns in the work zone. FDOT said motorists will need to continue past their destination, make a U-turn when legal to do so and make a right-hand turn into the destination.
Prior to restarting construction, FKAA will provide an updated traffic management plan for FDOT’s review and approval to avoid similar excessive delays in the future.
Questions about the project should be directed to FKAA at 305-296-2425 or email at https://www.fkaa.com/307/Contact-the-FKAA; and FDOT at 800-226-2368 or email at fdotmiamidade.com.
— This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
